Silver for Kiwi rider

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Olympic medallist Simon van Velthooven won a silver medal in the 1km time trial on the opening night of finals at the UCI track cycling world championships in Minsk, Belarus yesterday.

Van Velthooven, third in last year's championships, powered home over the final two laps in 1:00.869 to overtake all but Frenchman Francois Pervis who set one of the fastest times recorded at sea level of 1:00.221.

Van Velthooven emulated the efforts of Harry Kent, who gained New Zealand's first medal at the championships when he was second in the same event in 1970.

"It was great. I knew I was on a good time but it didn't feel sensational," Van Velthooven said.

"The person who beat me today rode a sensational time which was a sea level world record, I think. I knew it could be beaten but unfortunately I couldn't beat it today."